Dart game

ABSTRACT

A dart game includes a target board (22) with segments which are movably mounted between radial ribs (24) and concentric ribs (26) to receive the darts. Each segment has a switch which is actuated when a dart hits the segment and which is connected to a hit-display. The target board has at least two target fields (50 to 56), each of which is made up of segments located between adjacent radial ribs (24). A display light (60 to 66) is associated with each segment of a target field. All the lights of each target field are switched on only by hits on this target field by the first player to hit it, and the display lights of the target field concerned are not switched on by or after a subsequent hit by another player. The display lights (60, 62, 64, 66) may be disposed in more or more arrays (42, 44, 46, 48), making the progress of the game particularly easy to follow.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a dart game for several players, the gamecomprising a dart board composed of segments that are movably arrangedbetween radial and concentric ribs so as to receive the thrown darts,each segment having an associated switch that is actuated by the impactof a dart and is connected by way of a switching device with a hitdisplay.

Dart games are known in various embodiments. The darts are always thrownat a dart board that is divided into a number of segments. Each segmentis provided with a switch which is actuated when a dart hits it. Withevery hit on a segment, a certain number of points is scored. Theplaying and scoring rules are different and frequently relativelycomplicated.

German Unexamined Published Patent Application DE-OS 3,341,303 disclosesa dart game of the above-mentioned type in which the recording, countingand display of the points scored by each player is performedautomatically. For this purpose, the dart board has an associatedswitching matrix that is connected with a microcomputer. A display isalso provided which includes display fields for indicating the scores ofthe various players and the number of points scored at the moment.

The dart game disclosed in Unexamined Published Patent Application WO-OS88/03638 includes a display for the progression and status of a game.The display provides information about the number of coins fed in andthe available games and leads the player through the selection of a gameand the number of players.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the invention to make the playing of the game in adart game device of the above-mentioned type more interesting,attractive and suspenseful and thus offer more entertainment and makeplaying the game more enticing to the players.

A dart game according to the invention includes at least two targetfields which are each formed of segments that are arranged betweenadjacent radial and concentric ribs, with each segment of the targetfields having an associated display lamp. All of the display lamps ofeach target field can be actuated only by a hit from the player who isthe first to hit this target field. The display lamps of the respectivetarget field can no longer be actuated upon and after a hit by anotherplayer.

In the dart game according to the invention a target field thus includessegments which are defined by ribs and which are able to actuate aswitch when hit by a dart. The segments of a target field are here eachto be hit by one player, with the associated switch in each case beingactuated and the hit display lighting up accordingly. If, however, it isanother player's turn and this player hits a segment of a target fieldin which some segments have already been hit by the one player, the oneplayer loses the opportunity to hit all segments of the target field andhe thus loses this target field and the corresponding points won.

According to the object of the game, it is thus not only the hitting ofsegments that is important but also the throwing skill and tacticsduring selection of the segments at which to aim. On the one hand, it isimportant to fill a target field by hitting its segments, and on theother hand,, hitting one of the segments at which the opponent is aimingwill prevent the opponent from filling this target field. Successfulhitting of expedient segment combinations leads to a high number ofpoints and to a reduction of the opponent's points. The competitiveattraction in this game is high due to the many variations in theprogression of the game and the game is played quickly.

The observation of the progression of the game is made possible by thedisplay lamps which each light up as soon as a segment of a player'starget field is hit. Thus it is possible to see the segment combinationsthat are being developed.

In an advantageous embodiment of the dart game according to theinvention, the game ends with a win when all display lamps of a targetfield are lit up. In this case, one or several target fields areprovided, preferably between adjacent radial and/or concentric ribs.

Although generally each segment has its associated display lamp whichlights up if a dart hits the segment in question, a display lamp mayalso be associated with two or three segments in such a way that itlights up if one of these segments is hit. In addition, an acousticalsignal may of course also be provided as a hit indication.

Certain hit/segment combinations may be provided according to preferredfigures (column, row, etc.) as preferred combinations in which case aplayer attempts to prevent the opponent from building up a hit/segmentcombination, similarly as this is the case in a game of morris. Byarranging the display lamps in one or several matrix fields, it is easyto read out which segments are still free of hits and to selectaccordingly the segments that are most favorable as a target for furtherplaying. If an intended segment is hit, the respective display lamplights up. Otherwise, the throw is considered a miss and no display lamplights up.

In an advantageous embodiment of the dart game according to theinvention which includes a counter that responds to switch actuations, amultiplier is connected with the counter so as to be actuated at a givencombination of switch actuations. If a certain combination of segmentsis hit on the dart board, the multiplier is initiated and switched in sothat the combination points are included in the point count with acoefficient.

Preferably, each player has his own matrix field display. In a preferreddart game according to the invention this is realized by a switchingdevice and a memory device connected therewith for the switching stateof the display lamps disposed in the matrix fields. Actuation of theswitching device switches the display lamps according to the storedswitching state and at the same time, the previously displayed switchingstate is stored. Automatic or manual act--nation of the switching devicecauses the matrix field and the display lamps to indicate the momentarystate of the presently active player's game. In this connection it maybe provided that segments already hit by other players are additionallyindicated in a special manner as being occupied, for example, in thatthe respective display lamps light up, with the display lamps of thesegments just hit by the player being in a blinking state.

For the case of several players, the switching device advisably hasseveral sets of associated matrix field memory data and the switchingdevice includes a selector switch with which the display of a set ofswitching states is selected from the stored matrix field memory data.In this case, the presently applicable matrix field is displayed, thatis, the matrix field of the presently playing player, while theremaining matrix fields are stored and are thus virtual matrix fields.

It may also be provided that there are several matrix fieldscorresponding to the intended number of players and a selector switch isprovided,,with which the switching state of the switches is selectedaccording to one of the switching states displayed in the matrix fieldsand with which the lamps are switched accordingly. In that case, allmatrix fields associated with the players are displayed and only thematrix field of the presently active player is activated by actuation ofthe switch. A hit on the dart board then causes a change in the displayof the respective active matrix field in that the respective displaylamp begins to blink while the already hit segments in the other matrixfields are indicated by the associated display lamps lighting up.Preferably three or four matrix fields are provided. This numbercorresponds to the optimum number of players.

In another preferred embodiment of the dart game according to theinvention, the display lamps associated with the switches aredistributed around the dart board. This arrangement makes a more directreference between the matrix fields and their partial regions relativeto the segments of the dart board. The players thus see very easily andat just one glance which one of the segments has already been hit ornot. In this arrangement the partial regions of the matrix field aredistributed to correspond to the segment arrangements. If, for example,the dart board is divided into concentric rings that are sub-dividedradially, the partial regions of the matrix field may be arranged, forexample, in the form of a row that extends radially toward the center ofthe dart board and outside of the associated sector. A display lamp insuch a row, for example a light-emitting diode, corresponds in each caseto one concentric section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the dart gameaccording to the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the dart gameaccording to the invention.

Insofar as the same components are shown in the two embodiments of FIGS.1 and 2, these are given the same reference numerals. However, theillustrations should not be considered to be limiting.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Initially, a first embodiment of the invention will be described withreference to FIG. 1. The dart game includes a housing 2 having a basesection 4 and side walls 6. Somewhat above base section 4, housing 2 hasa projecting section 8. Above this, a set-back section 10 is arranged.Above the set-back section 10 there is again a projecting section 12 asthe uppermost housing section.

On a front plate 14, the projecting section 8 is provided with a slot 16for the insertion of coins. Keys 20 are provided as operating elementson a cover plate 18 on the projecting section 8. The desired gameoperation, the number of players, a change of players, etc. can beselected by means of these keys. Advisably, keys 20 are simultaneouslyconfigured as display elements so that the selections put in areindicated.

The set-back section 10 is equipped with a dart board 22. By means ofradial ribs 24 and concentric ribs 26, dart board 22 is divided into anumber of segments 28 which are mounted so as to be movable in adirection perpendicular to the segment surface. Ribs 24 and 26 are givenan arrowhead configuration at their outer sides in order to deflectincoming darts to adjacent segment 28. In the illustrated embodiment,segments 28 are each provided with a number of non-illustrated openingsinto which the tips of impinging darts are able to penetrate. Behind thesegments there are switches that are actuated by a displacement movementof the segments as a result of the impact of a dart. In the illustratedembodiment, dart board 22 is divided into ten sectors which are numbered1 to 10. The numbering is applied radially outside of each sector.

In an upper display region 30, the upper projecting section 12 includesfour numerical displays 32 to 38 which may be, for example, LED[light-emitting diode] displays. On a lower display region 40, fourdisplay fields 42 to 48 are provided. Each display field 42 to 48 hasfive columns which are marked in the upper row of the display fieldswith the numerals 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9. The columns each include fourluminous displays that are lit by display lamps, for examplelight-emitting diodes. The numerals 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 each identify asector of the dart board associated with the column on which valid hitscan be made. The sectors marked 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 are thusnon-selectable fields. Hits landing on these fields do not count.

In the illustrated embodiment, a display lamp is associated with eachsegment 28 of each odd-numbered sector. This means, for example in thecase of sector 1, the innermost segment 50 of sector 1 is coupled withthe lowermost display lamp 60 of the left column of display field 42.The two middle display lamps 62 and 64 are associated with the twomiddle segments 52 and 54. The uppermost display lamp 66 indicates thehit status of the uppermost or outermost segment 56.

In the illustrated embodiment, four display fields for four players areprovided by display fields 42 to 48. By actuating the appropriate key20, the corresponding display field 42, 44, 46 or 48 is activated toindicate the hit level of the respective active player while theremaining display fields each indicate the hit level of a waitingplayer.

By arranging the display lamps in matrix fields, the person specificstate of the game and the number of hits scored as a whole is given in avery clear form. It can be determined at a glance which one of thesegments of the dart board has already been hit and which player has hitwhich segments. The points resulting from the hits in each case and thetotal number of points are displayed in numerical displays 32 to 38. Forexample, the player associated with the left numerical display 32 andthe left display field 42 has realized a total number of 340 points.

The configuration of the luminous display as a matrix field also permitsa variation of play in which certain segment combinations are connectedwith higher numbers of points. For example, sequences of adjacentdisplay lamps, for example three adjacent display lamps in a row orthree adjacent display lamps in a column, may be considered preferredhit combinations and may lead to a higher coefficient. If such asequence is realized, a multiplier may be switched in by an internallyprovided evaluation device so that the points for the sequence aremultiplied, for example, by the number 3. Other formations may also beselected.

The end of the game may be set at the point in time at which allsegments have been hit, that is, when all display lamps of a matrixfield are lit. The respective player is then the winner. Anothervariation of the dart game may be configured in such a way that thewinner is whoever first scores a certain number of points. The game thusprovides a competitive attraction for the players. The winner of thedart game is always the person who is a skilled thrower and also atactician because, on the one hand, it is important to score as manypoints as possible for oneself and, on the other hand, by selecting thesegments to be hit in a specific way, to prevent the opponent fromscoring possible points.

FIG. 2 shows a variation of the dart game according to the invention.Housing 2 has a narrower upper, projecting section 68 which has only asingle display region 30 with numerical displays 32 to 38. Instead ofdisplay fields 42 to 48 as in the first embodiment, the dart game shownin FIG. 2 is provided with radial display columns 70 to 78 which eachinclude four display lamps or light-emitting diodes, respectively. Thedisplay lamps of each radial display column 70 to 78 are each associatedwith the segments of one of sectors 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9. For example, theinner display lamp 80 of radial display column 70 indicates that theinner segment 50 of sector 1 was hit. Correspondingly, the middledisplay lamps 82 and 84 are associated with middle segments 52 and 54,respectively, and the outer display lamp 86 is associated with the outersegment 56 of sector 1. In this embodiment of the dart game, only thetotal number of segments hit and the points scored by the respectiveplayers are indicated. Thus a variation of the game can be played ononly a single playing field, a game that is quite similar to a game ofmorris, while the dart game of FIG. 1 with its virtual matrix fieldsincludes an active playing field and several virtual playing fields.

Of course diverse variations and modifications are possible. Thefeatures of the dart game according to the invention as disclosed in theclaims, the specification and the drawings may be employed, inparticular, individually or also in any desired combination.

I claim:
 1. A dart game for use by dart game players, comprising:a dartboard which includes a plurality of radial ribs, a plurality ofconcentric ribs, a plurality of target fields, each of the target fieldsincluding a plurality of segments which are disposed between the ribs toreceive darts, and a plurality of switches, each switch corresponding toa respective segment and being activated when the respective segment ishit by a dart; a hit display which includes a plurality of groups ofdisplay lamps, the groups of display lamps corresponding to the targetfields so that each target field has at least one group corresponding toit, each of the display lamps in a group corresponding to a respectivesegment of the corresponding target field; and means, responsive to theswitches and including a memory device, for selectively illuminatingdisplay lamps when the corresponding segments of the dart board are hitby darts, the display lamps being selectively illuminated in such amanner that a first one of the display lamps corresponding to a giventarget field is illuminated when a first one of the segments of thegiven target field is hit by a dart thrown by a player and thereafterfurther display lamps corresponding to the given target field areilluminated only when further segments of the given target field are hitby darts thrown by the same player.
 2. A dart game according to claim 1,wherein the groups of display lamps are disposed in rows and columnswhich form at least one matrix field, wherein the display lamps haveon/off states, wherein the memory device stores sets of matrix fieldmemory data indicating on/off states of the display lamps, and whereinthe means for selectively illuminating display lamps comprises means forilluminating display lamps of the at least one matrix field to display astored set of matrix field memory data and for simultaneously storing apreviously-displayed set of on/off states.
 3. A dart game according toclaim 1, wherein each target field has a plurality of groups of displaylamps corresponding to it, and wherein the groups of display lamps aredisposed in rows and columns which form a plurality of matrix fields,each matrix field having a display lamp for every segment of everytarget field.
 4. A dart game according to claim 1, wherein each targetfield has a single group of display lamps corresponding to it, the groupof display lamps corresponding to a given target field being disposed ina radially-extending row adjacent the given target field.
 5. A dart gameaccording to claim 1, wherein at least one of the target fields iscomposed of segments that are disposed between an adjacent pair ofradial ribs.
 6. A dart game according to claim 1, wherein at least oneof the target fields is composed of segments that re disposed between anadjacent pair of concentric ribs.
 7. A dart game according to claim 1,further including a counter that responds to switch actuations, and amultiplier that is connected with the counter so as to be actuated at agiven combination of switch actuations.
 8. A dart game according toclaim 1, wherein the groups of display lamps are disposed in rows andcolumns which form at least one matrix field, wherein the memory devicestores sets of matrix field memory data, and wherein the means forselectively illuminating display lamps further includes selector switchmeans for designating one of the sets of matrix field memory data to bedisplayed.
 9. A dart game according to claim 1, wherein the groups ofdisplay lamps are distributed around the dart board.